Remembering The King Of Africa: Muamar Gadhafi

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Written By  Dr. Inyang Oduok


The savage treatment of Col. Gahafi while injured but alive and the cannibalistic treatment of his lifeless body do not allow for easy closure of Gadhafi’s death in the hands NATO and its Rebel allies.

 

It is reported that his “mutilated body was laid out in a commercial freezer as a trophy for public view flanked by his slain son Mautossim and former defense chief Abu Bakr Younis.

 

One Rebel fighter is seen pulling his hair and others beating his limp body. Some struck his head with a gun butt. There is gun shot wound to his forehead and abdomen. The body looked like half naked. Excited Rebel fighters hovered around his lifeless body like maggots toying with his body and yanking his head up and down as they flashed the victory sign.” “Gadhafi who is alleged to have been dragged out of a drainage ditch alive was executed according to forensic pathologist.” The Rebel behaviors were gory, gruesome, despicable and brutal by any civilized standards.

 

The Western powers’ whose daily air strikes -26, 000 sorties including 9, 600 strike on 5, 900 military targets assisted by rag tag Rebel forces cut down Qaddafi, were equally jubilant. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton hoped that “Gadhafi is captured or killed so that the Libyans will have their freedom.” Precedent Obama said “we can definitely say that the Gadhafi ‘s regime has come to an end.” Nothing was said about the gruesome images which in no way reflect the culture, practices and values we in this country share.

 

 Sirte, Qaddafi’s birth place is reported “to be a ghost town. There is hardly a building without a bullet hole. The stench of putrefying bodies waft through the air combined with fetid smell from standing water in the main streets. There is no place for Siterans to lay their heads, cook or eat.” I thought the no fly zone and the NATO military intervention were intended to protect the civilian population? What happened?

 

 

GADHAFI THE MAN:

 

As human, our work is not measured by taking the sum of our good deeds and the sum of our bad deeds and averaging them out. The measure is our heart and for this, Gadhafi stands tall in the world stage.

 

When Col. Qaddafi came to power 42 years ago, Libya under Idris monarchy was divided among three loosely confederate provinces and dozens of insular tribes. He forged Libya into a single nation and unified the people under a democratic principle –people’s democracy where every one is a ruler.

 

Qaddafi had wide support from his people. He loved them and they in turn loved him. “Life under Qaddafi was good says Zidane standing on the roof top. Now he is dead. God give him mercy.”

 

  Libya is clearly an African country. But under Idris the late Monarch, it was identified as one of Arab States. It was Qaddafi that returned Libya to where it belongs-Africa.

 

In Africa, Gadhafi unquestionable has a place in history of the Continent’s long struggle against colonialism and the exploitation by western powers. If Qaddafi is missed and mourned any where beside Libya, it will be in Africa.

 

 Across Africa, the King of Kings is widely admired. His tone is fighting but he symbolizes civil and religious liberty and a caring heart. He had a wide range of friends. In Bamako, the Capital of Mali, Gadhafi stands tall larger than life. A new campus building bears Gadhafi’s name.

 

Gadhafi had a deep pride in Pan Africanism. He was the driving force -the pillar of an emerging United States of Africa. Across African continent, his murder has brought home a growing awareness of the rebirth of NATO colonialism with oil as a predominant factor.

 

Gadhafi supported several African liberation movements. He offered substantial financial support to Black South Africans in their years of struggle against white South African Apathy regime. He generously contributed for the liberation struggles around the globe. 

 

Gadhafi offered Louis Farakan millions of dollars to assist African Americans in their struggles against poverty. The offer was allegedly blocked by the Bush’s Administration.

 

His faith is deeply rooted in our founding principles- the sacred right of the people to govern themselves and hated colonial exploitation of third world nations by the West with a passion. He promoted the cause of the Palestinian people and empathized with their plight.

 

Libya

a small North African country was held as a republic of the masses, intellectual and commercial hub and extremely rich in oil. Libya under Gadhafi got back its dignity in the community of Nations except the West and some Arab States.           

 

GADHAFFI’S THAWS WITH SOME ARAB STATES:

 

Gadhafi hated some Middle Eastern leaders with a passion. He saw them as puppets of the West and traitors. Some Arab leaders also hated Gadhafi. The late Egyptian President Sadat thought “he was a mad man.”

 

LIBYAN’S REBELLIOUS PATH:

 

 Benghazi gave birth to the internal armed insurrection whose sole purpose appears to have been to topple Gadhafi’s regime. Gadhafi like any government tried to put down the insurrection by force after the rebel forces refused to disarm. Qatar, Arab Emirates, Jordan and Sweden joined NATO war efforts against Gadhafi.
 
It is important to note that United Nations Security Council authorized the no fly zone and military action if necessary to protect civilian population in response to an Arab League’s request to try to halt Gadhafi’s military advancement against the Rebels and their civilian supporters. The question is, why did Arab League request protection of Rebels that rose against a sovereign state? This raises a case of Arab states’ complicity in the Rebel uprising in Libya and as co-conspirators with NATO to topple Gahafi’s regime and kill him.   

 

 Compare:

 

SAUDI ARABIA:

 

 Arab League did not seek United Nations Security Council resolution to protect civilian population when Saudi Arabia mounted a pre-meditated military assault on rebels in the Kingdom years ago. The Kingdom is still ruled by autocratic and despotic leadership and we are right in the middle of it and are doing nothing about it, why?  

 

JORDAN UNDER KING HUSSIEN:

 

Arab league did not seek military intervention when Jordanian Palestinians protested against inhumane treatment by the late king Hussien of Jordan.  Several Palestinians were killed in that uprising by Jordanian troops. NATO did not intervene, why?

 

BAHRAIN:

King Hamad bin Isa al Khalifa of Bahrain mowed down protesters against his regime in March 2011. The Saudi sent in troops and fighter jets to quell the insurrection. Why did NATO not intervene to save civilian lives and property?

 

SYRIA:

How about Syria where the crack down on protest has allegedly “led to the death of 3000 people and scores injured” Why is the Arab League not seeking military intervention to save civilian lives? Sheik Hamad Bin Jasem Bin Jabr Al THani is heading a committee of Arab States to find a peaceful solution to Syrian conflict. “What is important to us” he says, “is that there are no victims from any side in Syria” The fighting should stop and the dialogue should begin between Syrian brothers. …”

 

ISREALI –PALESTINIAN CONFLICT:

 

Sharon was a brutal dictator and killed so many Palestinians in their protest against Israeli occupation of West Bank and Gaza. Why did NATO not sent in troops to defend the Palestinians?

 

 YEMEN:

 

Is an example of government gone awry, the country’s brutal crack down of the uprising has killed thousands of citizens and yet neither Arab League nor NATO has sought military intervention, why?

 

The entire Arab world is ruled by autocratic or despotic leaders whose bizarre and eccentric behaviors over decades define the woes and plights of  their people. Why is there no military intervention by NATO?

 

NIGERIA:

 

Nigeria, a country whose wealth is being squandered by various military dictatorships determined to snuff off any opposition despite costs in social and sectarian tension. Several freedom fighters and Delta people were killed during Abacha and Obasanjo’s administration projecting the distance between power and the powerless. Where was NATO if I may ask?
The shoot on site order of Jonathan Good luck against Akwa Ibom State people did not draw even warning from NATO, why?   
GADHAFI’S THAW WITH THE WEST:


Gadhafi undoubtedly posed a formidable challenge to the West. He saw the West as exploiters and their brand of democracy as a disguised form of colonialism. He blamed the West for Arab woes mostly ruled by autocratic or despotic leaderships sustained by Western power. He was accused of sponsoring attacks against Western Nations such as the bombing of Berlin Night Club in 1986 and the downing of Pan Am airline over Lockerbie Scotland in 1988. The Regan administration retaliated after the Berlin bombing by U.S. air strike on his residence. His family members were killed in the attack.
  
CLOSING THE CHAPTER OF A PAINFUL EPISODE:

 

But over the years, everything had changed. The countries sense of hatred for Gadhafi had been replaced with forgiveness we thought. Mistrust had been replaced with trust and Gadhafi had reinvented himself. Children who lost their parents in Panam bombing had grown into young adults. Gadhafi “had paid millions of dollars of monetary compensation to victims of Panam bombing.”

 

The republican leadership had sent Condoleezza Rice, Bush’s Secretary of State to Libya. She so impressed Gadhafi he had an odd fixation on her, created a photo album of her and commissioned a song titled “Black Power in the White House” when she visited Libya in 2008. His government became an ally of George Bush in his fight against terrorism. He surrendered Libya’s weapons of mass destruction in 2003. The odd couples were now back together. So what went wrong again under Obama administration to warrant NATO proxy war against Libya? What caused the political fall out.

 

“The Arab Spring they call it.” But you all know what is going on in the Arab world. But let’s call it “Arab Spring.”  
  

However, the suggestion that “Gadhafi loyalist were either going or were going to go from house to house to kill civilians and rebel supporters” seems a pile of rubbish – a pretext to go to war against Libya and take out Gadhafi.

Recall that eight years ago we attacked Sadam Hussein’s government. The stated causes of the attack was the need to secure Hussein’s stock piles of weapons of mass destruction and to retaliate for his part in the September 11, terrorist attack against United States. We all now know how that turned out. There was no weapon of mass destruction. Sadam Hussein had no connection to the September 11, attack. And Iraqis did not strew roses in the path of American Soldiers as Vice President Dick Cheney represented to the American people. All turned out to be false.

 

There are thousand fold cases involving citizens all over the globe under repressive governments but NATO does not worry over them. I cannot but ask myself why there is so much disdain for Gadhafi by the West and greater interests in taking down Qaddafi. The answer is simply oil war and colonialism.   

 

Was the United Nations resolution authorizing NATO bombing to protect civilians, a pretext for regime change? The answer is categorical yes.

The deception practiced by NATO to get into Libya to take out Gahafi demeans us and shows that we do not play by the rules. More importantly, that NATO cannot be trusted. 

 

Mapp v. Ohio, teaches us that nothing can destroy a government more quickly than its failure to observe its own laws or worse, its disregard for the charter of its own existence. We cannot continue to operate as if we are a lawless nation or as if we are policemen of the world.   

 

Also, the summary execution of Gadhafi after he was caught alive by Rebels and NATO offend laws of nations, Geneva Convention, justice and reason.

I find it highly unlikely that the field commanders were not instructed
what to do if Gahafi was caught alive. Therefore, I am persuaded to believe that Gadhafi was intentionally executed in violation of the rules of war by NATO and its rebel allies and should be called to account.  

  

 Chambers v. Baltimore, instructs that the right to use and defend in court is an alternative of force. In an organized society, it is a right conservative of all rights and lies at the foundation of orderly governments. “All criminals are entitled to their days in court.”   

 

Moreover, the deception practiced on the world body defeats Obama administration’s notion of collectivism. Consent of the world body obtained by fraud is not a valid consent.

 

Also, the summary execution of Mommar Gadhafi by NATO proxy warriors, and the savage and brutal attack on the lifeless body of Mommar Gadhafi soils NATO and United States image around the globe.

 

Russia, China and all African Governments that voted to authorize the use of force to protect civilians and the no fly zone have been made to look like idiots by the WEST.  

 

NATO and United State’s role in the world is now going to be viewed with more suspicion -a new form of military adventurism -to topple sovereign governments by fighting proxy wars? The credibility of United States and NATO is now questioned around the globe.  
 

There is no greater injustice done to Qaddafi’s memories than for African Heads of Sates to remain muted over Qaddafi’s gritty end.   

 

  Mohammed el Kheshen- a professor of law at Cairo University has argued that “Gadhafi’s history is so dark that it is very difficult to give him any honorable connotation because of his death.” The argument is unpersuasive. He was a true Moslem and not a sellout like most other Arab leaders and died defending the faith and Libyan sovereignty. For that he stands alone and died a martyr.

 

True Kings do not die. We beseech the good Lord to bless his soul as he enters the sleep from which there is no waking, wearing what he loved most -Africa and pouring his heart to the people he loved so much as his own  children “my son don’t kill me” to his eternal rest. 
 Oduok is an Eket son based in Atlanta, Georgia.

On The Sale of Imo State – AdaPalm PLC To Roche Group

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The actions of the Governor of Imo State,Owelle Rochas Okorocha have attracted so much criticism from members of the press. Thisday Newspaper editorial once mentioned that the Governor’s most notable achievement to date has been to make headline news for all sorts of gaffes. The paper went ahead to say that the Governor is giving Nigerians something to really laugh about. It is obvious that Okorocha is making mockery of himself but the sad thing is that he does not seem to care what people think or say.

At a Stakeholders forum in Owerri recently, Owelle was asked about the issue of the sale of the State owned Adapalm Plc. After laughing and making reference to “certain” press boys (he did not mention them by names) this is what Okorocha said :“I detest the press boys. I don’t want them to come around me. They go out of their way against even their professional ethics and tell lies about me and my administration. They allow themselves to be influenced by politicians to spread falsehood against me. Because of this I do not want to have anything to do with the press boys.”

He said he picks up a Nigerian Newspaper only when he wants to look for something to laugh about. What Okorocha said about his hatred of the press isn’t new. But it’s new and interesting that he said it in public.We all know that Journalists are the whipping boys of the Governor. He has advised his Aides and Cabinet to ignore all that are appearing in the press about his activities. To him, members of the press are persona non grata.

Governor Okorocha is behaving like the traditional’ Eze onye agwalam’. Eze onye agwalam is a Village Chief that shuns advice. He should blacklist the press at his own peril. This is democracy. He should amend his ways .The bible in Romans 6 v 1 said ‘What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!’I believe it will not be in the best interest of the Governor for the press to hide the truth from him. The press is there to watch the excesses of any government anywhere in the world. The press is the guardian of the people as the fourth estate of the realm.

Governor Okorocha was advised by well-meaning Imolites not to sale Adapalm Plc but he did not listen. Today the media is filled with the news that Imo State government has sold the multi-million naira Adapalm PLC to Roche Group, an Irish Company .Some say Adapalm is sold for 20 years. Whether for 20years or less, a sale is a sale. Adapalm plantation is located in Ohaji/Egbema L.G.A of Imo State.Introducing the new owners to the people of Ohaji/Egbema LGA,Owelle Rochas Okorocha declared that the new owners have the full rights to hire and fire staff.

There is no doubt whatsoever that the sale of Adapalm under the administration of Owelle Rochas is fraught with all kinds of sharp practices, shady deals and under-the-table-practices. The sale of Adapalm is criminal to say the least. I see this as an act of insensitivity by the Governor to the interests of the poor masses. The sale of Adapalm , especially at a time when thousands of Imo people are needlessly poor and in need of gainful employment, is nothing but an anti-poor, pro-rich policy. Tragically this policy is taking place at a time when statistics released by the Federal Ministry of Finance recently rated Imo State financially strong. Imo State has constantly received jumbo allocations since Governor Okorocha came in. He is yet to show us what he has used the allocation money on, as we have not witnessed any genuine project instituted by his administration.

Okorocha behaves like a maximum ruler who will be in power forever, but he has forgotten that, whatever has a beginning will surely come to an end one day.Political office is for a while, power is ephemeral. His rescue mission has now become the reckless sale of the collective patrimony of Imo people, to his businessmen partners. The due process, rule of law and collective interests of Imo State was not taken into consideration. This Roche Group has taken over all major construction projects in Imo.

At a time when the available institutions of higher learning in Imo turn out thousands of graduates on a yearly basis, most of whom remain perpetually unemployed and only ceaselessly roaming the streets in search of unavailable jobs, Okorocha is preoccupied with the business of selling of publicly owned properties which were built over the years with our collectively owned wealth – a venture which in all aspect is perpetually anti-people. The sale of Adapalm  is a pro-rich policy because it puts public wealth into private hands and further increases poverty because it puts more people out of employment as the new management is out to make profit at the expense of human life. According to sources, an estimated 2,000 Adapalm workers are to be sacked.Okorocha is about to make so many people of Ohaji/Egbema the host community to Adapalm jobless.

The sale  of Adapalm should be totally condemned by Imolites as it does the toiling masses no good. But will Eze onye agwalam(Okorocha)ever listen to the voice of reason? The truth of the matter today is that the people’s patience are snapping and very fast too despite Okorocha’s threat of dealing with unfriendly Journalists. We worry about how Okorocha is converting Imo State and its funds into a family enterprise while governing the State with impunity and military fiat not minding or giving a hoot how the people felt. Save us o’ God.

-Kenneth Uwadi, Mmahu-Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria

Chicago Man Arrested, Suspected of Robbing Same Bank Four Times

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DAVID E. GREGORY, age 57, of 7946 South Normal in Chicago, was arrested on Friday, October 28, 2011, without incident, by members of the Chicago FBI’s Violent Crimes Task Force (VCTF), after being charged with the September 30 robbery of the Chicago Community Bank, located at 52 East Lake Street in Chicago.

According to the complaint, a robber, subsequently identified as GREGORY, entered the bank around 9:30 a.m., handed the teller a note stating he had a gun and a bomb, and demanded money from the teller drawer. After receiving approximately $631.00 in cash, GREGORY left the bank, fleeing the area on foot.

Recovered at the scene was a demand note left behind by the robber. Subsequent investigation by the VCTF, including a forensic examination of the note by the FBI Laboratory, determined that a latent fingerprint on the note belonged to GREGORY.

Though not charged, GREGORY is also a suspect in the robbery of the same bank on three prior occasions, August 12, September 16 and October 12.

GREGORY appeared in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Friday, October 28, 2011, at which time he was formally charged. GREGORY is being held without bond pending his next court appearance which is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, November 4, 2011, at 2:30 p.m.

The FBI VCTF is comprised of FBI special agents, detectives from the Chicago Police Department, and investigators from the Cook County Sheriff’s Police.

If convicted, GREGORY faces a possible sentence of up to 20 years’ incarceration.

A Letter To the Nigerian Public sector

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by Taulpaul Oselen on Thursday, November 3, 2011 at 9:26pm

In the new Nigeria, there is a call to all public officers to live up to their name, ‘Public Servants.’ The public servant is the one who has committed the best of his abilities in service to Nigeria in accordance with the vision and values of the new Nigeria. It will no more be said that government business is nobody’s business.

The dilemma of the Servants and the Masters

In Nigeria, there seems to be a misunderstanding of the word ‘servant’. Servants (elected and appointed officers) are meant to render service to their masters (the electorate) who put them into

office but somehow this has not been the case in Nigeria.

In the old Nigeria, it was virtually impossible for the master to find his servant to make a request of him. Servants actually were not only inaccessible to their masters but were also confident enough to always know what was good for the master. Servants told their masters what they should ask for and when they should ask for it. They also demanded of their masters, gratitude for solving the needs that they assessed as priority. In the new Nigeria, this system cannot work. The master is supposed to see his servant when he desires to be able to communicate to him his needs. We recommend that public servants be mandated by law to have a known schedule and timing when they must be available to their constituency.

Also, under the old system there was another misnomer; the sacrifice for mastery and the rewards of service. It was like the strange picture the wise king Solomon painted; servants on horses and princes walking. In the old Nigeria, elected and appointed servants paid no price for service but were actually pampered and outrageously compensated for accepting to ‘serve’. While the masters had to toil and labour night and day to pay taxes so that their servants may serve comfortably. In the new Nigeria, we cannot afford to keep distracting our public servants with so much wealth and entitlements, for they need to channel more of their time to their primary function of service.

The new Nigeria is built on leadership by example and hinged on moral values. Therefore, it is safe to

say that public servants who sacrifice all to serve their masters should be first partakers of their services whether in the health, education, power sectors of the economy. It would be so unfair of we the masters to deprive them and their families the chance of being first beneficiaries of the facilities (good enough for the masters) they worked tirelessly to provide. In the old Nigeria, it was another odd sight to see our public servants patronize international services in areas such as health and education, leaving the masters to enjoy the fruits of all their labour. This we say is not the best if we as a nation must fulfill the vision of the new Nigeria.

This is a reminder to all public officers that you swore to an oath to uphold the constitution of the country which states in sections 14, 15, 16 and 20;

14. (1) The Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be a State based on the principles of democracy and social justice.

(2) It is hereby, accordingly, declared that:

(a) sovereignty belongs to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this Constitution derives all its powers and authority;

(b) the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government

(2) The State shall direct its policy towards ensuring:

(a) the promotion of a planned and balanced economic development;

(b) that the material resources of the nation are harnessed and distributed as best as possible to serve the common good;

(c) that the economic system is not operated in such a manner as to permit the concentration of wealth or the means of production and exchange in the hands of few individuals or of a group; and

(d) that suitable and adequate shelter, suitable and adequate food, reasonable national minimum living wage, old age care and pensions, unemployment, sick benefits and welfare of the disabled are provided for all citizens

15. (1) The motto of the Federal Republic of Nigeria shall be Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress.

(2) Accordingly, national integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited.

(3) For the purpose of promoting national integration, it shall be the duty of the State to:

(a) provide adequate facilities for and encourage free mobility of people, goods and services throughtout the Federation.

(b) secure full residence rights for every citizen in all parts of the Federation.

(c) encourage inter-marriage among persons from different places of

origin, or of different religious, ethnic or linguistic association or ties; and

(d) promote or encourage the formation of associations that cut across ethnic, linguistic, religious and or other sectional barriers.

(4) The State shall foster a feeling of belonging and of involvement among the various people of the Federation, to the end that loyalty to the nation shall override sectional loyalties.

(5) The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power

16. (1) The State shall, within the context of the ideals and objectives for which provisions are made in this Constitution.

(a) harness the resources of the nation and promote national prosperity and an efficient, a dynamic and self-reliant economy;

(b) control the national economy in such manner as to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every citizen on the basis of social justice and equality of status and opportunity;

(c) without prejudice to its right to operate or participate in areas of the economy, other than the major sectors of the economy, manage and operate the major sectors of the economy;

(d) without prejudice to the right of any person to participate in areas of the economy within the major sector of the economy, protect the right of every citizen to engage in any economic activities outside the major sectors of the economy

20. The State shall protect and improve the environment and safeguard the water, air and land, forest and wild life of Nigeria.

…these are but a few of the words you promised to uphold. We simply request of you nothing new but that which you swore to do. The above responsibilities give no allusion to government being saddled with the responsibilities of business operations. Therefore, government should formulate requisite policies and institutional frameworks that create the enabling environment for the private sector to start-up and operate businesses, if we are to have a successful economy.

                                                        To all other public servants

No government can function effectively without the help of different levels of committed personnel. To this end, many Nigerians acknowledge and appreciate your contributions to national growth in the old Nigeria having operated under some of the most unbearable working and living conditions in the world. In the new Nigeria, we must work together to change these inhumane conditions to enhance better service to our nation.   

We request of you to exemplify the core values of the new Nigeria in whatever you are asked to do. Make up your mind to live with the utmost sense of integrity in carrying out your duties and responsibilities. Be committed to go beyond the call of duty. Be the change that you seek in the world. Decide to be the difference maker in your sector. Become the definition of patriotism and selfless service.

A good character is important for the actualization of the vision of the new Nigeria but this cannot replace the need for the highest levels of competency; continually seek to improve your knowledge of what you do. Remember, knowledge is power. Seek up-to-date information about whatever you do so you can fully harness your God-given abilities.

It is high time we got rid of the plague called the ‘Nigerian Factor’. This has been the unwritten constitution that has governed our practices and attitudes for so many years. It is the system where moral aberrations and unacceptable practices are established as the norm. We can work together to lay the right foundations based on true moral values.

Remember, no one can ever pay you enough for your service. Therefore be motivated for service by your love for God, Nigeria and yourself. Also, bear this in mind that people rarely forget those who treat them with care and respect.

Thank you and God bless Nigeria.

Culled from my book, “Creating a New Nigeria”

Private Refinery: Orient Petroleum To Start Oil Production 2012 – Anyaoku

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…targets 2000 high net worth jobs, as shareholders applaud strides 

The chairman of the Orient Petroleum Resources Ltd, Chief Emeka Anyaoku has confirmed that the company would start crude oil exploration, production and sales next year, all things being equal.

The cheering news was made public at the just concluded 2011 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Company which has interest in petroleum products refining, exploration, production, sales and exports.

In his keynote address, the chairman briefly reviewed some of the fundamental developments that have taken place in the nation that directly or indirectly affects the company’s performance up to the end of August, 2011.

Looking at the performance of the company generally, Chief Anyaoku said it has an integrated business model that spans the upstream and downstream of the petroleum industry.  After the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) granted them the Licence to Establish and the Approval to Construct its 55,000 bpsd refinery in 2002 and 2004, respectively, the company had gone ahead to obtain from the FGN in 2005 the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Certificate for its refinery, the first refinery in Nigeria to obtain such an EIA Certificate. 

He disclosed also that to provide additional insurance and security for crude feedstock supply, the FGN had granted to Orient on sole risk basis, two oil blocks, OPL 915 & 916, which are very close to the location of their refinery.  They have since receiving the 2 oil blocks, been conducting the necessary Exploration and Production work to ensure timely provision of crude feedstock to the refinery.  

The company decided early in 2011 to fast-track a staged development of its two oil blocks, OPL 915 and OPL 916 by initial completion and production testing of one of the already drilled oil wells and 3D seismic data acquisition.  This staged oil field development is expected to generate cash flow to support the financing and early completion of the refinery, which is a capital intensive project.

He said that in the foregoing therefore, it is envisaged that completion of the refinery installation would be by end 2012, including overseas procurement and shipment of long lead items and on-site fabrication of storage tanks

The Managing Director, Engr Emeka Nwawka in a chat with journalists used the occasion to dissociate Orient from among the private refineries reported to have lost their operational licences. He asserted that theirs remain valid and intact.

Nwawka told the Guardian at the company’s office in Awka yesterday that they have gone far beyond that level in their operations, as they are already set to commence actual exploration, production and crude oil export within the next one year. That when that phase of their operations takes off fully it would provide no fewer than two thousand high net worth direct jobs and ancillary services.     

He commended the supportive efforts and encouragement of the Federal Ministries of Finance and Petroleum, both of which he acknowledged have kept them going. He said the sector generally is desirous to have the FG’s proposed incentives gazetted and implemented as a way to stimulate their activities and programmes.

He said they would start with oil production and thereafter gas production would follow. And that since they would not borrow all the needed funds, the initial sales of the products would assist them fund some of the machineries acquisitions

According to Chief Anyaoku, the government’s economic structural reform continues with efforts to improve the stability of the banking system, curb inflation and improve the reliability of basic infrastructure; improved expenditure on which he believes partly for the declining stock of nation’s external reserves.   The price of Nigeria’s Bonny light grade averaged US$62.20, US$ 80.90 per barrel, for 2009, 2010, respectively. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.72% in the second quarter of 2011, up from 7.4% recorded in 2010.

The nation’s crude oil production, he stated stood at around 1.9 million and 2.47 million barrels per day(bpd) by year-end 2009 and 2010 respectively is expected to increase slightly with the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill, which is before the National Assembly.  He saw the planned removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government as one of the expected ways to help correct a lot of distortions in the economy, including the pressure on the currency exchange rate.

The former Commonwealth Secretary General commended the strength of the new Economic Management Team set up by the President Goodluck Jonathan, describing it as a clear demonstration of the priority being placed on the improvement of the country’s economy. He told the shareholders that the ongoing political stability in the country has been an important boost in the continuing investor confidence enjoyed by the country.

He however bemoaned the security question in the nation and admitted it still calls for much concern and hoped that the increasing focus by the Government to addressing these challenges will soon begin to yield positive results.

 That they have since completed the detailed engineering, sourced the modules of its refinery and completed key project components, including:

*the acquisition, perimeter and topographical surveys of 240 hectares of land at the refinery site in Anambra State and 21 hectares at Lokoja, Kogi State for standalone petroleum products depot to serve central and northern parts of Nigeria;

*the geotechnical, geological and hydro-geological surveys at the refinery site;

    *the site civil engineering works – clearing, leveling earthworks prior to construction of internal roads and reinforced concrete plinths for installation of refinery equipment.

It is envisaged that the completion of the refinery installation would be by the end of 2012 including overseas procurement and shipment of long lead items and on-the-site fabrication of storage tanks.

  

Taking a look at the future with optimism, the board chairman said they remain committed to maximising shareholders value and will continually adapt their business model in the challenging economic climate, to ensure that positive progress would be made in the coming months to always position the company in the path of profitability.

The company he pointed out is expected to complete construction of the refinery and commence sales at the end of 2012 and thereafter, the Board of Directors will review overall results prior to recommending a dividend.

In Nigeria: Impossibility Is Nothing

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I  have  every  right  to  prove  every  doubting  Thomas  that  things  do  work  in Nigeria  than  any  another  geographical  destination  in  the  world.  You  still  doubt?  Everything  is  possible,  once  you  are  a  Nigerian  or  resides  here,  just  chase   you   dream  with  no  or  no  effort.  It  must  come  true   now  or  in  fifteen  years  time.  Just  take  a  look  at  some  examples  and  you  agree  with  me  that  this   nation  is  getting  some  where.  Forget  what  the  international  community   is  talk  about  us  or  the  reports  we  get  everyday  from  the  American  CNN.  This  country  possess  enormous  potentials.  The  world  jealous  us  because  they  still  dream  to  do  what   we  do.

If  you  are  a  Nigerian  politician  with  any  political  post,  you  are  sure  to  be  rich  by  hundred  folds  once  you  don’t  be  in  opposition.  It  does  matter  how  you  serve  the  people,  but  the  millions  you  were  able  to  siphon  into  accounts  abroad.  If  EFCC  probe  you  tomorrow,  just  tell  them  how  you  meticulously  served  the  people.  All  your  trips  abroad  are  for  medical  check  up,  you  don’t  check  up  in  any  Nigerian  hospital  or  a  big  coffin  awaits  you.  Our  hospitals  are  certified  mortuaries.  Who  will  equip  or  upgrade  them?  While  you  go  abroad,  let  the  common  Nigeria  go  into  the  bushes  around  and  gather  roots  and  herbs.  After all  that’s  what  our  great  grand  fathers  use  any  time  a  health  malfunction  occurs.  Why  tell  me  that  nothing  is  possible  in  Nigeria?  Our  governors  can’t  pay  the  18, 000  naira  minimum  wage  because  the  state’s  treasury  will  run  dry.  Their  security  votes  run  in  billions  of  naira,  no,  that  will  never  empty  the  treasury.  The  civil  servants  will  always  cry  out  their  eyes  before  salaries  they  labored  for  could  be  paid.  One  day,  let  our  governors  be  owned  one  month  salary  and  you  will  surely  see  that  those  people  we  do  call  your “Excellency”  are  never  better  than  motor  park  agboros.  They  will  surely  go  wild.

It  is  only  in  this  country  that  our  leaders  travel  by  air.  They  don’t  pass  through  the  death  traps  called  roads.  Our  leaders  only  build  “air  ways”,  let  we  that  pass  through  those  road  do  whatsoever  that  please  us.  Even  if  they  do,  they  pass  with  jeeps  with  dinted  glasses.  So  they  don’t  see  how  the  roads  looked  like.  It  is  only  in  this  country  that  our  leaders  take  their  children  and  wards  to  schools  abroad  and  our  schools  are  left  with  depilated  structures.  No  functional  library   or  anything  that  could  aid  the  students  to  learn.  Their  children  want  better  education  while  our  children  deserve  nothing  but  a  certificate  to  be  an  okada  man  or  taxi  driver  after  so  many  years  of  academic  struggles.  If  you  are  having  a  birthday,  just  call  few  friends  with  snacks  and  drinks,  they  will  wish  you  happy  birthday  in  your  small  ghetto.  Our  leaders  don’t  celebrate  birthdays  unless  it  is  done  in   big  hotels  of  Australia,  New York  and  the  rest.  It  is  only  in  Nigeria  that  you  will  see  that  we  have  an  epileptic  power  supply,  but  still  give  electricity  to  another  country.  What  a  benevolence!  If  you  sue  or  report  your  neighbor  for  disturbing  your  peace  with  his  generator  to  the  police,  of course  that’s  one  hell  of  a  mistake.  The  police  would  rather  tell  you  to   buy  your  own  generator  and  face  it  near  your  neighbor’s  window.

We  have  refineries  in  this  country,  but  still  import  petroleum  products.  May  be  our  leaders  are  reserving  our  crude  oil  for  the  future.  Our  leaders  are  wise.  Second  handed  goods  are  contraband,  what  are  tokunbo  planes  doing  up  in  our  air  space?  The  wikileaks  have  continued  to  leak  how  oil  was  stolen  by  our  supposed  leaders  and  nothing  is  been  done  to  the  defaulters.  They  walk  the  streets  free  men  and  collect  ch(th)ieftaincy  titles.  You  still  doubt   that  in  Nigeria  impossibility  is  nothing.  It  is  only  in  this  country  that  the  elections  are  free  and  fair  unless  one  party  won  by  landslide  victory.  It  is  only  in  this  country  that  a  governor  will  decide  to  sack  workers,  with  claim  that  they  are  non-indigenes.  It  is  only  in  this  country  that  bombs  are  thrown  like  banger.  We  are  yet  to  see  or  hear  that  the  bomb  culprits  were  caught.

In  this  country,  every  business  thrives.  Talk  of  kidnapping,  Armed  robbery,  yahoo  yahoo,  trafficking  of  persons,  hawking  of  human  parts,  hard  drugs  trafficking  even  prostitution.  That  must  have  been  the  reason  why  the  deputy  senate  president  have  called  for  its  legalization.  Am  sure  tomorrow,  kidnapping  would  be  legalized  because  the  business  seemed  to  be  moving  on  higher  pace.  Even  native  doctors  and  witches  have  upgraded  their  status  now.  They  now  wear  suits  and  perfumes.  Their  offices  are  air-conditioned  with  laptops  connected  to  the  internet.  Our  pastors  prophesy  nothing  unless  dooms.  They  don’t  see  any  good  thing  in  their  vision.  That’s  why  one  of  them  couldn’t  see  that  Nigeria  will  never  qualify  for  the  African  cup  nations  2012.  Even  our  footballers  require  prophesy  to   know  how  they  fair  in  any  football  match  apologies  to  the  “Osaze’s  doctrine”.  It  is  only  in  this  country  that  human  rights  are  thrown  in  the  gutters.  Once  you  are  rich  and  got  connection  to  the  corridors  of  power,  you  do  anything  you  like.  None  will  question  you.  You  have  bought  everybody  like  groundnuts.  Who  dares  you  when  you  move  through  the  high  way  with  a  vehicle  with  no  number  plates  and  driving  without  seat  belt  in  a  more  accelerated  speed.  Let  the  road  safety  officials  break  their  heads  because  you  will  surely  knock  them  into  the  bush.  Beat  an  ordinary  man  to  stupor,  you  are  innocent.

Our  police  block  the  high  ways  and  extort  from  motorists  twenty  naira  on  daily  basis.  They  see  okada  men  as  animals.  It  is  only  in  this  country  that  armed  robbers  would  attack  you,  call  the  police  and  you  be  shocked  when  they  ask  what  sort  of  guns  the  hoodlums  were  having.  Who  wants  to  die?  If  you  can  challenge  the  devils,  the  police  is  willing  to  arm  you  with  any  available  rifle.  If  you  are  still  doubting  that  nothing  is  working  in  Nigeria,  you  better  have  a  rethink  and  know  that  this  nation  is  getting  somewhere.

2015: Aso Villa A Mystery For Ndigbo – Orji Uzor Kalu

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Four distant years to the next Presidential elections,former Abia state governor Orji Uzor Kalu Tuesday flashed a Yellow card to individuals preparing for the the plum job, warning that Aso Villa remained a mystery to men of ambition.
 
Kalu disclosed that in democratic Nigeria,no President ever planned to rule until providence changed the course of history.
 
He said,”The best way to lose the position is to plan for it.General Olusegun Obasanjo was picked from maximum detention to monumental attention in 1999.Alhaji Umaru Yar’adua thought of retirement before a higher rating came in 2007.Dr. Goodluck Jonathan hardly settled down as Vice President when death rejigged his position in 2010.All these men virtually got the job on a platter of gold.”
 
In explaining the uncanny mood of Aso Villa,the former governor added that the country’s first Executive President Alhaji Shehu Shagari was ousted while on holidays in Abuja barely three months into his second term.
 
“Shagari’s second term ambition died with the December 31,1983 coup.It also took the life of Brigadier Ibrahim Bako and detention of Guards Brigade Commander Col.Mohammed Bello Kaliel.Since that period,ambitious civilians have never been so lucky to win elections to the Villa”, Kalu explained.
 
The ex-governor also played with the word “Aso” as he advised those angling for the position to learn from history.
 
“Aso is the Gwari word for victory.So whoever goes to The Villa is a winner.It also means abomination in some parts of Igboland where it serves as name.In Yoruba it could stand for dress.For those who want to earn victory in 2015,it is abominable to begin a dress rehearsal now.Patience is the name of the game.And after Goodluck,let us all like Ndigbo, wait for the hand of God,”Kalu summed up.

APGA Crisis: Fight Breaks Out In UK, Chekwas Okorie Attacked

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Information available to 247ureports.com from sources in United Kingdom indicate that the All Progressive Grand Alliance [APGA] crisis has reached the shores of the United Kingdom. This is as a physical brawl broke-out at the Bannister House Community Hall located along Hommerton High Street opposite Hommerton Hospital in Hackney where the founding Chairman of the APGA, Chekwas Okorie was scheduled to meet with a select group of Nigerians on Wednesday November 2, 2011 at 7pm.

According to the information gathered, Chekwas Okorie had arrived at the Bannister House Community Hall at approximately minutes past 8pm for the scheduled meeting. Okorie is said to have come to the event to address the private audience of the ongoing crisis in APGA and the solutions.

However, followers of Victor Umeh faction of APGA had other plans. In their take, Chekwas Okorie’s continued struggle to for the seat of Chairman signifies betrayal particularly since they understand that Chekwas Okorie had offered the APGA gubernatorial ticket to Dr. Chris Ngige – during the period Mr. Peter Obi was deep in battle for his mandate at the tribunal. 

To this end, members of the Victor Umeh group of APGA in the United Kingdom, prior to Chekwas Okorie’s arrival, had set up camp nearby the location in preps “to harrass and disorganize” Chekwas Okorie and his continued claim as Chairman of APGA. This effort was championed by the executive members of the newly formed UK Chapter of APGA that was launched by Chief Victor Umeh in late September 2011.

As Chief Okorie arrived, the Victor Umeh group throoped behind him into the Hall and were immediately seated. As Okorie rose to address the seated audience, like clockwork, the Victor Umeh group took to action.

They began with hauling of accusatory questions [at him] – of offering to sell the party to Dr. Chris Ngige – of which Chekwas Okorie was quoted as saying in response that he will give Ngige the APGA ticket when the Supreme Courts returns his mandate later in November 2011.  

The group sustained their effort to deny Okorie the opportunity to address the audience. The event, as a result as turned into a ruckus as the two groups began exchange of words, that quickly resulted to a brawl of fists and flying chairs. Chekwas Okorie was attacked but did not sustain injuries.

The event was organized for Chekwas Okorie by Nnamdi Kanu. The organizer of the Victor Umeh group was Onyeka Mbaso. 

Stay tuned

Siasia is still Eagles Coach-Emmanuel Omijeh‏

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FIFA President, Sepp Blatter

*Conflict may be taken to FIFA
A fresh hue of crisis may be brewing in the Super Eagles as Nigerian FIFA licensed agent, Emmanuel Babatunde Omijeh, has declared that he does not accept the news making the rounds in the media that coach Samson Siasia has been sacked as true, as the coach has not received as at today any letter to indicate the NFF has sacked him.
Omijeh who was speaking to accordsports in Abuja yesterday argued that “even if the NFF is planning to dispense with the services of the coach, the contract made adequate provisions on how that can be done, and not through the media. For now, Siasia was only sacked in the media, there is no letter to that effect from the NFF.”
He said that, my client (Siasia) and his team have only heard and read so much noise in the media claiming that the coach was sacked for not meeting up with the target given to him to qualify the nation for the Nations Cup and get to the semi-final of the competition, but he stated that the FA has forgotten so soon that there are several aspects of the contract that they contravened.”
For example, Omijeh noted that the contract explicitly stated that in the event of termination of the contract, each party must be given a notice of thirty days which he argued was not the case here.
“As far as we are concerned, Samson Siasia is still technically the coach of the Super Eagles as he has not been notified of his sack through any letter and because he has not been notified officially by the NFF we want to believe that it is just the handiwork of the press.”
“We also appeal to the NFF to please correct the news making the rounds in the press of his sack as it does not speak well of the agreement Siasia had with them. If they want to sack him they know the processes to follow to accomplish that and not through the pages of the newspapers, television screens and radio.”
Emmanuel Omijeh maintained that should the NFF not correct the news that is going on in the media, they would not hesitate to take further action with regard to taking the case to FIFA with a view to critically assessing the terms of the contract.

—
Olajide Ayodeji Fashikun
Weekend Editor,
National Accord newspaper,
Suite 005, TransPharm Plaza,
Opposite Jabi motor park, After ThisDay newspaper,
Jabi-Abuja, Nigeria
Tel: +234-805-3622-797

Nnaji Issues ‘Final Warning’ to Management of PHCN

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(Abuja, Wednesday 2 November 2011). Minister of Power, Prof. Bart Nnaji, yesterday issued “a second and final warning” to the management of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and its 18 successor companies to pay their workers the enhanced salary package negotiated by labour or risk the anger of the Ministry.

The Minister said he was displeased by reports that chief executives of some of the PHCN successor companies have yet to begin full implementation of the 50% increase in staff salary which the Federal Government approved for the PHCN staff with effect from June 2011.

The Minister had in a letter to the PHCN executives dated 27 October 2011, reiterated that the Federal Government not only accepted to pay for the first three months to enable the successor companies to adjust to the new salary structure but has also made available the funds for immediate payment.

There are indications that government and the trade union of junior workers in the power sector may be heading for a showdown over the implementation of the new pay, due to what insiders describe as “politicization of the power sector reforms.”

The Ministry had stated that in line with the decisions reached with labour, only workers who are captured in the ongoing biometric data exercise of PHCN staff members will be paid, to ensure accountability and transparency. In a letter written on October 28, 2011, the Chief executive of PHCN, Engineer Hussein Labo, had informed all the CEOs that the conduct of the biometric exercise “is a precondition for the payment of the arrears of the 50% salary increase for June, July and August”.

The leadership of the National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE), on the other hand, wants the payment to be made without verification.

“In fact,” a source said, “the union’s leadership has decided to call for a strike if all 50,000 PHCN workers are not fully paid before the forthcoming Muslim holidays, verification or no verification”.

It was also revealed that the NUEE General Secretary, Mr. Joseph Ajaero, says only the casual PHCN workers should be verified, rather than both regular and casual staffers.

A top official in the Ministry of Power accused the NUEE leadership of “acting in bad faith”, disclosing that the ministry “is fast losing patience with the antics of the trade union.”

He continued: “We know that Ajaero wants to jeopardise the ongoing power sector reform which will culminate in the privatisation of the six generation and 11 distribution companies in the middle of next year.”

Top ministry officials recounted steps taken by the Godluck Jonathan administration to improve the welfare of PHCN workers, including payment of N57b for monetised benefits which was delayed for seven years, granting of a percentage of shares in the PHCN companies slated for privatisation, the 50% salary increase and the decision to convert thousands of casual employees to the regular staff.” Despite this, the NUEE leadership is said to have remained “unduly combative and confrontational”.

Both the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Presidential Task Force on Power (PTFP) have accused the union members of refusing their officials and representatives from gaining access to PHCN facilities across the country for evaluation.

“They have also vowed not to allow prospective private sector investors enter the PHCN premises”, said a Ministry of Power director, citing an August 2, 2010, circular by the NUEE scribe directing members to “chase away” BPE and PTFP officials as well as those interested in buying into the PHCN assets whom he called “intruders”.

Explaining the rationale for the biometric data collection, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Power, C. Don Adinuba, said the “exercise is designed to capture legitimate employees of PHCN and its unbundled companies into a central database for purposes of planning and human resource management. Similar exercises have been done or are being executed in other ministries and agencies of government ostensibly to weed out ghost workers.

A recent study shows that up to 30 percent of the workers currently employed and paid in the federal civil service can be classified as ghost workers.

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